VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota head women's basketball coach Carrie Eighmey is pleased to announce the signing of transfer Elise Turrubiates from Tarleton State. She joins South Dakota with one year of eligibility remaining.
 
Turrubiates, a 5-11 forward from Hobbs, New Mexico, appeared in 84 games, making 49 starts at Tarleton State. She averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in nearly 23 minutes per game as a Texans.
 
"Elise is a great addition to our program!" Eighmey said. "She has the ability to impact both ends of the floor with her length, athleticism, and the effort she plays with. She's a forward who runs the floor really well in transition, is able to score around the rim, and is also able to space away from the basket. She also has the capability of being an elite defender."
 
Turrubiates shot 44% from the field during her time at Tarleton State and scored a season-high 19 points at Utah Tech this season. She scored in double figures six times this season. She led the Texans in rebounding during the 2023-24 season.
 
As a prep at Hobbs (N.M.) High School, Turrubiates was a two-time state champion and a two-time all-state athlete. During her senior season at Hobbs, Turrubiates averaged 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game.
 
Turrubiates received all-Western Athletic Conference academic honors all four years and helped guide the Texans to their first 20-win season and first conference tournament semifinals appearance in the school's Division I era. She intends to major in psychology at South Dakota.